After a successful 5-year run, Circle Bar Racing is searching for a new crew chief to replace Kevin “Cowboy” Starland. “Cowboy and I met this morning and we decided that it was time for us both to try something different,” said Rick Crawford driver of the Circle Bar Ford F-150. “We wish Cowboy the best and we can’t thank him enough for his contributions to our race teams. On the personal side, Cowboy was more than just my crew chief, he’s my friend and I’m going to miss working with him.” The 5-year pairing of Crawford and Starland produced 2 wins, 29 top 5s, 62 top 10s, 4 poles and 4 top 10 finishes in NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series Championship standings.(Circle Bar Racing PR)(12-1-2009)
UPDATE: Rick Crawford told Sirius NASCAR Radio’s Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody Tuesday that in addition to the release of veteran crew chief Kevin “Cowboy” Starland, the team will cut-back from two trucks to one next season. “The #10 truck that was driven this season by James Buescher is going to be for sale,” said Crawford. “Running a two-truck team gave all of us at Circle Bar Racing more than we could handle at times this season, and drew attention away from the #14 truck. So we’ve made the decision to sell off the #10 team; trucks, tools, pit carts and equipment. We’re selling it all, and at fire sale prices. It’s a qualified truck for the 2010 season opener at Daytona,” said Crawford, “and it’s a good truck for someone to get involved in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.”(12-1-2009)
UPDATE 2: Crawford said on Thursday that his Circle Bar Racing team recently parted ways with crew chief Kevin Starland and needs a sponsor to replace International Truck and Engine Corp., which won’t return in 2010. Crawford indicated Circle Bar is waiting to sign a sponsor before naming a replacement for Starland. Depending on how the sponsorship situation unfolds for the #14 team, Crawford said he could return to Circle Bar, compete for another team next season or retire.(SceneDaily.com)(12-10-2009)
UPDATE 3: For veteran Alabama driver Rick Crawford the offseason for NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series is full of change. Crawford, who is from Mobile, plans to be back in the #14 Ford with Circle Bar Racing when the season starts back up in February at Daytona. But that’s about the only thing that won’t be different. Crawford’s sponsor, Power Stroke Diesel by International, won’t be the truck’s primary sponsor. But unlike a lot of teams that are struggling to round up new sponsors, Crawford says he has a new sponsor lined up. Crawford said he has a deal in the works for a “primary sponsor, full-time, maybe multi-year,” but he isn’t ready to announce it. AlabamaLive.com)(12-12-2009)
